surface for dog run??
 

We don't have a yard that will work for our puppies but will be creating a run down the side of our house for them. One long side of the run will be our house (just outside our kitchen and breakfast room) and the other long side is a retaining wall which is the upside of our property. Our house is on a steep hill. We will have a gate at each end of the run.
Our question is what surface to put on the run. The two surfaces that we are thinking about are: 1) concrete pads with gravel in the inbetween areas, and 2) rubber mulch (the kind that has no metal parts left over from rubber tires).
Does anyone have any comments for or against either of these surfaces?


The ideas that have been rejected are:
1.real mulch - too much dirt to track into the house on shoes and puppy paws
2. crushed gravel - made my puppies paws bloody from the sharp edges
3. river rock or small smooth rock - too easy for us to slip and fall and does not grind down puppy nails
4. poured concrete - not practical to create and would not allow good drainage from rain and melting snow


All opinions are welcomed. We want to get this started as soon as the snow stops here in Pittsburgh, PA

I'm horrible with imagination. Could you draw something up?

For my two, they don't seem to like any type of gravel. For rubber mulch... I'd be little worried the pups MIGHT chew on a piece and then would become a choking hazard.

Is this area just for play or will they be using this as a potty area too? Have you considered fake grass? Won't track dirt, won't cause bloody paws, not much to maintain, etc..

I covered the back yard that is closest to my patio with flagstone, with crushed granite between the stones. I had tried to plant a little moss thing that grows up so pretty between the stones....when they discovered that stuff, they happily began to pull it out, deposit tufts of the sweet little green moss stuff at the back door for me, and I had a mess! So we went back and just filled in with the crushed granite that hardened, yet allows rain to soak in. This has worked really well for us!

The run would be about 5 ft wide (the width between the house and the retaining wall) and approx. 28 ft long (from the front of the house to the rear of the house). It would be essentially a long narrow rectangle. It is relatively flat and level. I wanted to take a photo to send you but I don't want to trudge thru the snow at this time. I appreciate your comment about the puppies eating the rubber mulch. They do eat anything that does not eat them first.

I think that I might be leaning in this direction. Thanks for your response.

Yes this is for both play and potty use.

A definite nod to the rubber mulch eating comment - I hadn't thought of that! I am thinking flagstone with fill is a great idea though sod has my interest piqued as well. I had considered a sand base with cedar tow (it is soft strips not chips) but now I am imagining sandy wet doggie paws and thinking I was being unrealistic... Good discussion topic, thanks for bringing it up :)

We have the rubber mulch and our dogs don't try to chew it. When they do poop in it, it is harder to clean up. I would go with sod!

Problem with sod in my situation is that the area for the run gets no sun to speak of. I don't think that sod would last very long. So I suspect that I may be going with concrete squares and filler stone.

Some types of mulch is treated for bugs.... and the type that isn't could invite them. I don't think that treated mulch would be good for dogs to chew on .... could make them sick..... This is a very interesting thread and I am curious as to what else could be used safely! Maybe just a grassy area... there are some grasses that are more hardy than others.